Aam Aadmi Party's Jalandhar Central Halka In-Charge Nitin Kohli has slammed the central government, accusing the BJP of trying to snatch food from the plates of the poor.
He said that such discrimination against a state like Punjab, which is a major food producer, is unacceptable and exposes the BJP’s real face.
Kohli stated that in July, the central government, under the pretext of KYC procedures, stopped free ration for 23 lakh Punjabis. Now, preparations are underway to deny ration to another 32 lakh people from September 30, effectively depriving a total of 55 lakh Punjabis.
Nitin Kohli said this move is equivalent to striking directly at the stomachs of the poor. Kohli added that BJP’s actions are not only anti-Punjab but also anti-poor and anti-humanity.
He criticized the BJP, saying it is shameful that Punjab, which has always fed the nation and contributed to self-reliance, is now being targeted with policies that leave its people hungry.
Kohli demanded that BJP leaders answer Punjabis directly, "Is this their model of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'?"
Kohli further warned that the BJP’s decision will directly affect millions of poor families. With inflation already burdening the public, stopping essential facilities like ration is a double blow.
He highlighted the unfairness of the government’s reasoning, noting that if one member of a family owns a car, the entire family’s ration is cancelled, calling it both absurd and cruel.
He said, “First, BJP engaged in ‘vote theft’ during elections, and now it is resorting to ‘ration theft.’”
He criticized the government for targeting the poor and Punjabis, showing that its policies are only for show. On one hand, BJP boasts of giving free ration to 800 million people nationwide, while on the other, it denies ration to millions of families in Punjab.
Kohli warned the central government that Punjab will not tolerate such injustice. He said the people of Punjab are watching closely, and when the time comes, they will give BJP a strong response. He added that taking food from the poor is not just politics—it is a crime against humanity, and urged BJP leaders to immediately revoke this decision or face public backlash.
Kohli concluded by saying that Punjab has always contributed selflessly for the nation, and it is time for the central government to respect this contribution rather than play cheap politics by depriving the poor.